Cassius Clay, later known as Muhammad Ali, was one of the most prominent and influential figures in Black history. Born on January 17, 1942, in Louisville, Kentucky, Ali rose to fame as a professional boxer and became a symbol of Black pride, activism, and resistance during the Civil Rights Movement.

Ali was known for his incredible boxing talent, winning an Olympic gold medal in the light heavyweight division at the 1960 Rome Olympics and going on to become the first and only three-time lineal world heavyweight champion. However, he was perhaps even more famous for his outspokenness and refusal to be silent about social and political issues.

Ali converted to Islam in the 1960s and changed his name from Cassius Clay to Muhammad Ali, a decision that was met with controversy and backlash. He was a vocal critic of racial segregation, the Vietnam War, and other injustices, famously declaring, "I ain't got no quarrel with them Vietcong" when he refused to be drafted into the Vietnam War in 1967.

Ali was stripped of his boxing titles and barred from the sport for three years as a result of his conscientious objection to the war. However, he ultimately prevailed in the Supreme Court, and his conviction was overturned in 1971.

Throughout his life, Ali continued to be a powerful advocate for civil rights, humanitarian causes, and social justice. He passed away on June 3, 2016, but his legacy as a boxing legend, cultural icon, and tireless advocate for equality and justice lives on in Black history and beyond.